Just as dawn was breaking, the gates of the Xin residence were violently kicked open by government soldiers.
"Search by imperial decree!" The commander of the Imperial Guards raised his token high, and a dark mass of soldiers surged in like a tide behind him.
Xin Jiuwei stood under the corridor, watching her father being escorted out of the study by two imperial guards. Xin Hong's expression was calm, except that the crack on the jade thumb ring on his thumb had deepened.
"Father!" Xin Yunzhou rushed out from the backyard, but was struck on the back of the knee by a soldier and fell heavily to his knees.
The Imperial Guard Commander sneered, "Lord Xin, Qi Huaiyu died a violent death last night, clutching a piece of cloth from the Xin family in his hand before he died. His Majesty has issued an edict summoning you to the capital to explain."
Xin Xiyao grabbed Xin Yunzhou, who was about to rush forward, her phoenix eyes frosty: "May I ask, sir, where is the evidence?"
"Evidence?" The commander pulled a blood-stained piece of cloth from his pocket, embroidered with the Xin family's distinctive cloud pattern. "This was found next to Qi Huaiyu's body. Furthermore..." He glanced meaningfully at Xin Jiuwei, "Last night, someone saw Miss Xin the Third go to the death row."
Xin Jiuwei's heart skipped a beat—this was a dead end!
She instinctively reached for the brass key in her sleeve, when she suddenly heard a very faint "tap" sound from outside the wall, like a pebble hitting a tile.
The secret code of Lingyin Temple!
"If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext." Xin Jiuwei stepped forward, deliberately raising her voice, "Since the imperial decree orders Father to come to the capital, the Xin family should naturally comply. But if anyone wants to use this to frame us..." Her gaze swept over the Second Prince's token at the commander's waist, "Heaven's justice is clear, and retribution will be swift."
The commander's expression changed slightly, and he shouted sternly, "Take him away!"
After the soldiers left, Xin Jiuwei immediately rushed into her mother's former boudoir.
The bottom compartment of the dowry chest was opened with a copper key, revealing a yellowed letter and half a dragon-shaped jade pendant lying quietly inside.
The letter contained only a few words:
"Yao'er is not of the Xin family bloodline, but is the orphan of the late Crown Prince. If things fail, take this jade pendant to Lingyin Temple to find Jueming."
Xin Jiuwei's hand trembled, and the jade pendant almost fell to the ground—her elder sister was actually... the daughter of the former dynasty's crown prince?!
Does Jueming know this?
She suddenly remembered that when the Xin family was destroyed in her previous life, only Xin Xiyao was secretly taken to the capital and never heard from again...
"Miss!" Wang Qing rushed in, flustered. "The young lady is surrounded by soldiers in the front yard!"
Xin Jiuwei carefully hid the letter and jade pendant on her body. Just as she rushed out of the room, she heard Xin Xiyao's angry shout from the front yard: "I'll see who dares to touch me!"
Xin Xiyao held a gold hairpin to her throat, blood already staining her collar: "Take one more step forward, and I'll kill myself! Then let's see how you explain this to the Second Prince!"
The officers and soldiers hesitated as expected.
Xin Jiuwei seized the opportunity to step forward: "Elder sister! Before Father left, he instructed us to go to Lingyin Temple to perform a Buddhist ceremony for Mother." She deliberately raised her voice, "Do these officials even want to obstruct filial piety?"
The Imperial Guard commander narrowed his eyes, then suddenly sneered, "Very well, I will personally escort the two young ladies to the temple."
Lingyin Temple remains a popular place of worship, yet it exudes an eerie and somber atmosphere.
Xin Jiuwei knelt before the Buddha, pretending to chant sutras, but actually observing her surroundings—there were twice as many martial monks as usual today, and they were all carrying knives.
"Esteemed benefactor," a young novice monk quietly handed over a note, "Master Jueming is waiting for you on the back mountain."
Taking advantage of the imperial guards' inattention, the two sisters slipped out of the side hall under the pretext of changing clothes. Behind the mountain, ancient cypress trees stood tall, and a stone path, obscured by weeds, was faintly visible.
"Elder sister," Xin Jiuwei suddenly grabbed Xin Xiyao, taking out the half of the jade pendant, "Mother left it to me, saying it could protect your life."
Xin Xiyao took the jade pendant, her face instantly turning deathly pale: "This is..."
"Those were items belonging to the late Crown Prince." Xin Jiuwei lowered her voice. "My mother said in her letter that you were..."
"I know," Xin Xiyao interrupted her, a flicker of pain in her eyes. "My mother told me this three years ago when she was seriously ill." She suddenly shoved the jade pendant back into Xin Jiuwei's hand. "But this whole affair is aimed at you! The Second Prince doesn't want me, he wants..."
"Whoosh!"
A cold arrow suddenly shot out from the bushes, aiming straight for Xin Xiyao's heart!
Xin Jiuwei shoved her elder sister away abruptly, the arrow grazing her arm and spraying blood.
"As expected, it's here." Liu Ruhui emerged from the forest with dozens of men in black. "Your Highness is right; Miss Xin will definitely come to investigate the secret passage."
Xin Xiyao suddenly laughed: "Mr. Liu is quite cunning, but unfortunately..." She abruptly blew her bone whistle, "...forgot whose territory Lingyin Temple is!"
Suddenly, the sound of bowstrings rang out in unison in the mountains and forests—dozens of martial monks appeared from the treetops, their arrowheads gleaming coldly!
In the chaos of battle, Xin Jiuwei was forced to the edge of a cliff by Liu Ruhui.
"Why must Miss Xin resist?" Liu Ruhui sneered. "His Highness merely wishes to invite you to the capital as a guest."
Behind Xin Jiuwei was an abyss. Suddenly, she touched the half of the jade pendant in her sleeve—the sharp edges of the dragon pattern hurt her palm.
"Liu Ruhui!"
A sharp shout, like a thunderclap, rang out. Jueming, clad in a dark, sleek outfit, flew in, his sword flashing like a rainbow, aiming straight for Liu Ruhui's throat!
"Sixth Prince?!" Liu Ruhui hurriedly dodged, "You really are alive!"
Jueming's sword thrust remained undiminished: "The Northern Border Arms Case three years ago—wasn't that your doing?"
Liu Ruhui suddenly grinned maliciously: "So what if it is? Today you will all die!" He swung his hand sharply, "Release the arrows!"
Suddenly, more men in black rushed out of the secret passage below the cliff, and a rain of arrows swept down from the sky!
Jueming caught Xin Jiuwei and rolled towards the rocks, but an arrow still struck his shoulder. Blood instantly soaked his black clothes, yet he smiled: "Wei'er, do you believe me?"
Without waiting for a reply, he grabbed her waist and leaped off the cliff!
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